Matt Rhule speaks to the media

[TheSpecialJuan]

David NewtonESPN Staff Writer 

Panthers coach Matt Rhule on why he is beginning camp with 90 players instead of 80: “We had worked hard to take it to 90 guys we wanted to go camp with. Those guys worked hard all offseason. The rules say we can go down to 80 at any time (till Aug. 16). We thought we'd start off at 90 and see how things progressed.”

[TheSpecialJuan]

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

David NewtonESPN Staff Writer 

Matt Rhule still hasn't met all of his players yet. Asked if he's at a disadvantage because he hasn't had the practices and other benefits a new coach would get because of the pandemic, Rhule said: “Yes. It's less than ideal. Even as we make decisions now we're making them off zoom meetings. We all do the best we can with it and take it as a challenge.''

[TheSpecialJuan]

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

David NewtonESPN Staff Writer 

Matt Rhule said Pro Bowl DT KK Short, coming off a year on IR, looks like he's in great shape. Came in at 315 pounds. Says kicker Graham Gano, who also missed last season, looks to be in good shape.

[TheSpecialJuan]

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

David NewtonESPN Staff Writer 

Panthers coach Matt Rhule says all of his players are wearing masks in the building, but some – including some coaches – are wearing full shields in practice. One advantage of the shield, he said, you can see the player's or coach's face. “All have been really good about covering,'' Rhule said.

[TheSpecialJuan]

David NewtonESPN Staff Writer 

Matt Rhule likes what he's seen so far in the relationship between quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and offensive coordinator Joe Brady as they reunite from their year together in New Orleans in 2018. “Teddy knows [the offense] so well. He and Joe have a great relationship, a football relationship where they talk about level 3 and level 4 coaching things. They're off to a great start.''

[TheSpecialJuan]

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

David NewtonESPN Staff Writer 

Matt Rhule offered some insight onto what has been done to Bank of America Stadium to make it safer. There are outdoor weight rooms, the media room has been turned into a recovery room, each player has a suite for their virtual meetings. Everyone also wears contact tracers so if you're around somebody for more than 10 minutes it alerts you by turning red.

[TheSpecialJuan]

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

 

[TheSpecialJuan]

 

[TheSpecialJuan]